Want to Fix Foster Care? Ask Kids Who Have Been Through the System
Innovative report co-researched by youth from care focuses on importance of relationships
Hyslop, Katie
http://thetyee.ca/News/2018/12/13/Fix-Foster-Care-Ask-Kids/
Date Written: 2018-12-13
Publisher: The Tyee
Year Published: 2018
Resource Type: Article
Cx Number: CX23183
A report called Relationships Matter for Youth "Aging Out" of Care, co-researched by youth from care, focuses on what truly matters to the young people who are in the system and notably on the importance of building relationships.
Abstract:
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Excerpt:
Co-researcher Martha Dzhenganin, now 20, related the most to the recommendation for youth-centred decision-making.
"When we were doing this project, we were agreeing that we didn't feel like we had any input into what was going on in our lives," they said, referring to participants' time in care. "Really being listened to is what we're asking in that one."
Both Dzhenganin and Pratt said it's also important to act on recommendations like helping youth maintain connections with family, both biological and chosen; expanding the availability of post-aging out tuition waivers and financial support programs like the Agreement with Young Adults to all youth from care at any age; implementing youth-centred decision making; and changing the age for leaving foster care to 25.
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